Sacred Valley - Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu

After a night at Ollantaytambo Tika Wasi Valley Hotel, we boarded the Perurail tourist train to Machu Picchu Pueblo (Aguas Clientes). The train through the valley and along side the very full Urubamba River was very picturesque. There were lots of valleys along the side carved out by glaciers. The water in the Urubamba River was certainly roaring away and looking pretty angry. We could see the remnants of last year's major mud slides. Most of the damage caused had been fixed but there is still a lot of work being done by Perurail. Rene told us that it only took them 4 months to resume services after the major floods. The whole area gets a lot of rain so the vegetation is very lush.

Of course it was raining when we got to Machu Picchu Pueblo. We had to walk uphill to our hotel for the night. This time we stayed at the Inti Inn. The room was basic but comfortable enough. From our window we could see a house very precariously built on a slope. It was just clinging on.

Given it was still rather wet, Rene suggested we eat an early lunch and then catch the bus to Machu Picchu. It was the right decision. We ate lunch at a nice cafe near the bus station. Meryl and I had a soup each and shared a main course. The beef fillet was very nice.

The special bus service to Machu Picchu was very efficient. Each bus would go as soon as it was full or every 10 minutes. This was suppose to be the low season and yet there were many tourist. I would hate to be here during the high tourist season. The ride up to Machu Picchu was interesting as we zigzagged our way up.

At the entrance of Machu Picchu we had to show our tickets and passport. The place has developed tremendously since Peter and I were last here.

By the time we got there, the weather had improved. Rene took us up to the place where the Incas pilgrims used to carry stones from Pisac to drop here. One of the Inca astrologers foretold the end of the Inca Empire. Machu Picchu was constructed for their gateway to the next world. We saw numerous temples and altars, there are many theories about how they were used. The layout is the place is in the shape of a condor. The terraces make up the collar of a bird. Machu Picchu means Old Bird. The small mountain nearby it called Huayna Picchu which means Young Bird. The Incas believed that you go to the next world after death on the condor's wings. There were lots of places there were 3 steps cut into rocks depicting part of the Andean cross.

The most moving part is the altar where people come to make their peace before death.

The Condor Temple was impressive with the head of a condor craved on a rock and the natural forming the wings of the condor. Beside it was a small tunnel where we walked through. The whole idea of walking through the tunnel was to remind one about being humble and humility.

We visited the Temple of the Sun in the shape of a 'P' which equals fire. Underneath that there was a very interesting temple-like cave with the reverse 3 steps depicting the 3 levels of life. This was the first thing that Hiram Bingham saw when he was taken there by a young Indian boy.

The day ended at the sundial. We had to be shooed out by the guard. It was lovely to get the place to ourselves. I tried to get a photo of myself sitting on the seat in front of the sundial but the guard was too vigilant.

For dinner that evening we just walked across the lane to a pizzaria for pizza. It was pretty nice.

 

The next morning we went back to Machu Picchu. This time we show the complex 16 water fountains flowing down along the terraces. Rene explained that the water came from an underground spring. We revisited the temple of the Condor and the temple of the Sun. Then we walked to the Inca bridge. It was great to walk a small part of the trek used by the Incas. Along the way we saw some birds – humming birds, fly catchers. We also saw several interesting plants. The rain held off until we were nearly finished with our walk.

Machu Picchu appeared more mysterious with cloud and mist hanging around.

Despite being the low season, there were lots of tourist.

Then it was back to Machu Picchu Pueblo to catch the train back to Ollantaytambo. During the train ride we were entertained by the Perurail staff with a local festival dance. The person wore an interesting costume and had a tiger like mask on. After that there was a fashion show where they paraded some very nice woollen tops. Of course, they were for sale. Luckily the Japanese tourist kept them occupied and bought a lot of the outfits.

Hector was waiting for us at Ollantaytambo to take us back to Cuzco. We invited 3 Koreans to join us on the ride back. This was to give Hector an opportunity to earn a little extra cash. It was 10 sol for each of them. We returned using an alternate route. It was the route we would be using when we go to Chincero. There were some lovely farms along the way and of course very picturesque. We stopped to take some photos and of course there were a few stalls selling souvenirs.

Then it was back at Cuzco and familiar Casa Andina.